President Hinckley didn’t waste any time warming the crowd up beyond the morning sun on the southeast corner of the temple.
M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E
Through the Camera Lens:
The Coverstone Ceremony
by Maurine
and Scot Proctor
President Hinckley didn’t waste any time warming the crowd up beyond the morning
sun on the southeast corner of the temple.
Traditionally, putting on a temple capstone is the crowning moment of construction that announces about the exterior structure, “We are there.”
Coverstone awaits being placed upon the southeast cornerstone to cover the time
capsule.
In the recent temple dedications, however, that moment is replaced by a coverstone ceremony with the placing of a time capsule in the corner of the temple and then cementing a stone cover over it.
Elder Russell M. Nelson and wife, Sister Danzel Nelson, observe all the proceedings
of the ceremony.
President Hinckley holds up special commemorative coin before placing it in
the box with other items to be placed in the time capsule.
Those who have seen the Palmyra or Winter Quarter’s temple dedications probably noticed that President Hinckley invites other General Authorities and their wives, dignitaries, and children from the audience up to seal up the stone–usually with mixed results.
President Hinckley looks on as project manager Ron Prince and temple construction
department director Cory Karl get ready to place the time capsule in the cornerstone
of the Nauvoo Temple.
At the Nauvoo Temple coverstone ceremony the prophet quipped, “We’ve had a lot of experience in sealing these coverstones all over the world–but we don’t get any better at it.
Cory Karl and area director for temple construction Vern Hancock heft the heavy
coverstone in place so that President Hinckley can place the first mortar.
President Hinckley readies to place some “mud” on the coverstone. No one has
had more experience at this than Gordon B. Hinckley.
When we get through, the workmen come along and straighten it out and do it over.” This time, however, President Hinckley said, we’re going to do a better job, to which Elder Neal A. Maxwell said in a voice that unbeknownst to him was picked up by the microphone, “Are we going to do this by trowel and error?”
Close view of President Hinckley placing “mud” in the coverstone.
What a far cry this celebration and light-hearted quick wittedness was from the first Nauvoo capstone gathering. When Joseph Smith was killed, the Nauvoo temple was only one story high, yet on the twenty-fourth of May, 1845, eleven months after his martyrdom, the capstone was laid at the surprising hour of six o-clock in the morning. The hour was early on purpose because the Twelve were kept in an enforced semi-seclusion to avoid the officers who sought to serve writs upon them for trumped up charges.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell and Sister Colleen Maxwell place “mud” upon the coverstone
of the Nauvoo Temple.
John Taylor’s account recorded
in The Comprehensive History of the Church reads, “On the morning of
Elder Jon M. Huntsman was called out of the audience by President Hinckley to
put a little “mud” on the coverstone.
There were but few that knew about it, [but] the band playing on the walls, and the people hearing it, hurried up. About six o'clock a. m., the brethren being assembled, we proceeded to lay the stone; at a quarter past six the stone was laid; after which Brother Young prayed, his voice being heard distinctly, by the congregation below; and the congregation shouted 'Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb, Amen and Amen!'
Brother Jim Sorenson Sr. is also called out of the audience by President Hinckley
to put a little “mud” on the coverstone.
Brother Kay sung a song, composed for the occasion by W. W. Phelps, called 'The Capstone.' Although there were several officers watching for us to take us, yet we escaped without their knowledge; when the singing commenced we left unnoticed, and they had not an opportunity of seeing us."
Four mayors stand side by side at the coverstone ceremony. In front (from l
to r): Quincy, Illinois Mayor Charles W. Scholz; Nauvoo Mayor Tom Wilson; Keokuk,
Iowa Mayor Bob Davis; and Ft. Madison, Iowa Mayor John Wright. C. Angus Henry
Belliston, 2nd Counselor in the Temple Presidency stands in the background.
This time the public officials were friends who each got to take a hand at adding a little mortar to the stone and saying things like, “Our goal in Keokuk is to continue to be a good neighbor.”
President Richard W. Winder, Nauvoo Temple President, is invited by President
Hinckley to say a few words on his way to the coverstone.
President Hinckley put his arm around one attorney who had done some work for the Church and thanked him profusely for what he’d done. He was not a member of the Church and President Hinckley didn’t miss the opportunity to say, “He’s not a member of the Church, but any time he’s willing to change his mind, we’ll welcome him!”
Trowels upon the table with mud spilled upon the base of the coverstone await
the construction workers to come and finish off the job.
Though President Hinckley joked that in about 50 years somebody was going to come along and want to look at what was in this time capsule, Meridian provides a list here so that the coverstone can stay intact:
Books:
Tools:
Item:
Articles:
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© 2002 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.